State Grand Jury Indicts Teen On Murder Charge

BUSHNELL — A state grand jury indicted a 15-year-old Lake County boy Monday on a first-degree murder charge in the killing of a Sumter woman who was stabbed 51 times.

Stanley Tarrand, who was living with his grandmother in Stuckey at the time of his arrest, will be tried as an adult, Assistant State Attorney William Gross said. The teen-ager may face a possible death sentence if convicted.

Stanley was indicted in the June 28 slaying of Jackie Harris, 25, of Center Hill. The stabbing occurred at the Webster home of Wanda Tarrand, the teen-ager's mother, during an argument between the two, police said.

He was to be transferred from a juvenile detention center in Ocala to the Sumter County Jail to await trial on the murder charge, Gross said. The suspect was captured fleeing on his bicycle after the stabbing.

Police believe he was on his way to Stuckey, about 15 miles from Webster.

A dagger authorities believe was used in the slaying was found behind the home.

The Sumter grand jury returned its indictment after hearing testimony on the case for about 2 1/2 hours, Gross said.

First-degree murder is punishable by death or life in prison with a mandatory 25 years before eligibility for parole.

In another case involving a juvenile, prosecutors are to meet this week to decide whether to ask a Lake County grand jury to indict 14-year-old Jason Nawara of Fruitland Park on a first-degree murder charge.

He is accused in the July 5 shooting of his 10-year-old stepsister, Tammi Peck.